LG SL10YG review: Big soundbar, larger soundstage

The LG SL10YG is the company’s 2020 flagship soundbar, promising to ship a mix of immersive audio and sensible options.

This massive bar-and-sub combo helps each Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object-based sound codecs, due to a five.1.2-channel driving force structure, and in addition boasts integrated Chromecast and Google Assistant, making it a fully-functioning sensible speaker too.

Is it an authorized two-box travel to cinematic wonderment?

Design

Available in darkish gray

Soundbar: 1443 x 63 x 146mm; 7.5kg

Subwoofer: 221 x 390 x 313mm; 7.8kg

The LG SL10YG sports activities a graceful design with a height of best 63mm, that means it should not block your TV’s display screen. It’s additionally reasonably lengthy, making it higher fitted to TVs with display screen sizes of 65-inches and bigger. You can choose from stands or wall-mounting, with brackets supplied for the latter.

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The construct high quality is very good, with a wrap-around mesh grille and an exquisite dark-grey brushed-metal end. Behind this grille are front-firing left, proper and centre audio system, in conjunction with side-firing audio system; whilst upward-firing audio system are prominently located at the best of the unit.

The incorporated wi-fi lively subwoofer consists of MDF, with 3 aspects coated in black material, and a undeniable darkish gray best plate. It makes use of a 7-inch front-firing driving force with a rear port, and it is rather nicely made, even if now not as cast as the primary soundbar unit.

Connections & Controls

2x HDMI enter; HDMI output with ARC

Optical virtual audio enter; three.5mm analogue enter

Ethernet; Wi-Fi (2.four and 5GHz); Bluetooth four.2

Google Assistant and Chromecast

ThinQ and Google Home apps

The LG SL10YG homes its connections in a recessed house at the underside, the place you’ll be able to in finding two HDMI inputs, an HDMI output with ARC (audio go back channel), and an optical virtual audio enter. In phrases of wi-fi connections there is a number of integrated Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and Google Chromecast.

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All the HDMI ports can go 4K/60p and prime dynamic vary (particularly HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision). The loss of HDR10+ passthrough is no surprise given LG’s stance against the layout, however the loss of eARC (enhanced audio go back channel) enhance is odd bearing in mind it is incorporated on LG’s TVs.

The soundbar has a easy show that incorporates 4 LED signs for interplay with the integrated Google Assistant (therefore the G on the finish of the fashion quantity). This now not best permits for voice keep watch over of the soundbar but additionally permits you in finding knowledge, play song and a lot more.

In order to make use of Google Assistant merely say “Hey Google” or press the Google Assistant buttons at the major unit, controller or remote app. This engages the far-field microphones within the soundbar and, due to the integrated AI, you might have a completely functioning sensible speaker.

The incorporated remote is somewhat small and fiddly however gives huge buttons for energy, quantity, inputs and mute, along further buttons for settling on quite a lot of modes and controls.

Pocket-lint

The helpful Wi-Fi Speaker app is to be had for the ones wedded to their sensible units, offering get right of entry to to all of the controls discovered at the remote or even a few further ones: Dynamic Range Control and Auto Volume Leveller.

Features

570W of integrated amplification

Dolby Atmos and DTS:X deciphering

Hi-Res audio (192kHz/24-bit)

Meridian Technology

The LG SL10YG is ready as feature-packed a soundbar as you are more likely to in finding. The device contains technology from Meridian, in conjunction with 50W of integrated amplification for every of the entrance, centre, aspect and upward-firing audio system within the soundbar, and 220W for the subwoofer – generating a complete of 570W of energy.

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Thanks to these kind of audio system, the SL10YG is in a position to entirely enhance object-based immersive audio, and contains deciphering for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The soundbar could also be ready to make use of all its audio system to up-mix non-immersive content material.

In phrases of document enhance, there may be Hi-Res Audio with a 192kHz/24-bit DAC and enhance for MP3, WAV, AAC/AAC+, AIFF, OGG, and FLAC document codecs. There’s additionally Chromecast integrated, permitting you to forged songs, podcasts and stations from Tidal, Spotify, YouTube and extra.

Sound Quality

five.1.2-channel configuration

Optional rear audio system for 7.1.2 device

The very first thing you understand concerning the LG SL10YG is that it delivers a soundstage as massive because the soundbar itself. The 3 front-firing audio system make sure that the audio has width and intensity, whilst the addition of upward-firing audio system create the appearance of overhead channels. How efficient those upward-firing drivers are will in large part rely on your ceiling: the flatter, decrease and extra reflective it’s, the easier the impact.

The side-firing drivers produce further width through bouncing sounds off the aspect partitions, however there is no actual encompass presence. For that you’ll be able to wish to upload the SPK8-S wi-fi rear speaker package. As a consequence the SL10YG’s supply is slightly front-heavy, making a wall of sound across the TV display screen.

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The huge major unit is matched through a beefy wi-fi sub that gives a well-integrated and cast basis of bass.

Kicking off with some song, the SL10YG’s Meridian tuning for sure will pay dividends, with Shakespeare’s Sisters‘ Ride Again sounding detailed and balanced. Siobhan’s deeper vocals and Marcella’s falsetto are each treated with talent, whilst the guitars are delivered with a riding urgency, and the sub provides the drums a satisfying kick, leading to an excellent two-channel supply.

Moving directly to TV presentations and the devoted centre speaker unearths its price, generating discussion that is transparent and targeted at the display screen. So whether or not its a voice-over, a observation or a newsreader, you’ll be able to catch each and every remaining syllable. In addition song and results are unfold around the entrance of the room, making for an interesting sonic supply.

A extra advanced soundtrack, such because the five.1 blend for The Boys (Amazon Prime), advantages from all the ones audio system. As a consequence the not-so-super antics of the heroes are enhanced due to an entertaining multi-channel blend. There’s no actual encompass presence, however song, discussion and results are unfold around the entrance of the room, whilst the sub provides punches and explosions extra slam.

The soundbar’s efficiency with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X is especially efficient. The sci-fi international of Altered Carbon (Netflix) sounds implausible at the SL10YG. Whether it is flying automobiles, crowded town streets, or brutal motion, the five.1.2 channel supply supplies an immersive and extremely relaxing enjoy, despite the fact that the impact has a tendency to fill the entrance 3rd of the room.

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The 4K disc of Hellboy boasts an improbable new Atmos blend that makes complete use of all of the to be had channels. There’s thunder and rain above you all through the hole collection, whilst explosions and bolts of lightning pepper the entrance of the room. A scene the place Hellboy stops an SUV along with his massive proper hand permits the sub to dig deep with out embarrassing itself.

While now not as ubiquitous as Atmos, there are nonetheless quite a lot of DTS:X discs to be had, with Atomic Blonde is a superb instance. This competitive blend delivers a cracking 80s soundtrack, quite a lot of blistering motion and makes complete use of all of the audio system to immerse. As with the opposite soundtracks the results are against the entrance of the room, nevertheless it stays a amusing enjoy.

Verdict

The LG SL10YG is an excellent soundbar-and-subwoofer device that delivers a sizeable sonic supply highest fitted to nowadays’s big-screen TVs.

This bundle additionally boasts quite a lot of options, headlined through enhance for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X object-based audio. There’s even integrated Chromecast and Google Assistant, making this soundbar a fully-functioning sensible speaker.

The SL10YG’s entrance soundstage is suitably immersive, with sounds emanating from the perimeters and overhead; even if it’s somewhat front-heavy, with little in the way in which of encompass presence. However, the bass is easily incorporated and keeps quite a lot of intensity, giving nowadays’s trendy blockbusters a satisfying low-end have an effect on.

Only the loss of eARC and HDR10+ enhance disappoints, differently the LG SL10YG is a combo that is nicely price investigating.

Also imagine

Sony

Sony HT-ST5000

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Although dearer, this ‘bar does be offering eARC, thus making it a more sensible choice for somebody with quite a lot of lossless audio assets. It additionally has an on-screen menu with a speaker setup serve as, permitting users to optimise the efficiency. As a consequence this 7.1.2-channel device can ship an in depth and immersive sonic supply with Atmos and DTS:X, in addition to some impressively deep bass. Add Chromecast and multi-room functions and you have got your self a tidy device.